Paula Deen Macaroni Salad is a simple mix of elbow macaroni, hard boiled eggs, celery, and bell pepper tossed in a cup of mayonnaise. It comes together in 15 minutes, serves 5 to 6, and belongs on every cookout table and church supper spread across the South.
A full cup of mayonnaise for just 2 cups of pasta is what sets Paula’s version apart. Most recipes cut the ratio in half and end up bland. Rinse the cooked macaroni under cold water before you mix so the noodles don’t absorb the dressing and dry the salad out.
Boil the macaroni and eggs ahead of time and chill them before mixing. Cold ingredients keep the mayo from thinning out. Make it at least an hour before you need it so the flavors have time to come together in the fridge.
Paula Deen Macaroni Salad
Course: SaladCuisine: American, SouthernDifficulty: Easy5
servings15
minutes425
kcalA cold pasta salad made by folding hard boiled eggs, crunchy celery, and bell pepper into tender macaroni with a generous coat of mayonnaise, seasoned with lemon pepper and a pinch of seasoned salt.
Ingredients
2 cups cooked macaroni
3 hard boiled chopped eggs
1 cup chopped celery
¼ cup chopped bell pepper
1 cup mayonnaise
½ teaspoon Paula Deen Lemon Pepper Seasoning
½ teaspoon Paula Deen Silly Salt
1 tablespoon Mustard
Directions
- Combine and serve: Combine all ingredients in one bowl and serve.
FAQs
Can I use a different pasta shape?
Rotini, shells, and penne all work because they hold the dressing in their curves. Stay away from long noodles like spaghetti since they clump together. Cook whatever shape you pick just until al dente so it holds up after chilling.
How long does macaroni salad keep in the fridge?
It stays good for 3 to 4 days in a sealed container. The eggs are the limiting factor, so don’t push it past day four. Give it a stir before serving since the dressing settles as it sits.
Can I make this the night before?
Yes, and it usually tastes better that way because the flavors have time to blend overnight. Hold back a couple tablespoons of mayonnaise and stir them in before serving to freshen it up.
Why does my macaroni salad get dry after sitting?
The pasta absorbs the mayonnaise as it chills. Rinse the cooked macaroni under cold water to cool it down before mixing so it absorbs less. Stir in a spoonful of extra mayo right before serving if it looks tight.
What can I use instead of Paula Deen Silly Salt and Lemon Pepper Seasoning?
Silly Salt is a seasoned salt blend similar to Lawry’s, so any seasoned salt works. For the Lemon Pepper, standard lemon pepper seasoning from the spice aisle is the same thing under a different label.
